Hyperbolic Free Tier / Startup Credits

Hyperbolic is a GPU cloud provider focused on AI inference and training. It offers a free tier and startup credit programs that let teams run open-weight models and fine-tuning workloads without committing to large cloud contracts.

What you get

• Free tier credits. Enough to run small inference workloads, experiment with open-weight models, and prototype agents.
• Startup credits. Larger allocations for qualifying early-stage companies, often applied to GPU compute.
• Access to open-weight models. Deploy Llama, Qwen, DeepSeek, Mistral, and other models on demand.
• Serverless and dedicated GPU options. Choose between pay-per-token serverless inference or reserved instances.

Eligibility

• The public free tier is available to new accounts.
• Startup programs typically require:
  • An incorporated company under a certain age.
  • A product or prototype that uses AI inference or training.
  • No affiliation with a prior enterprise contract on Hyperbolic.
• Approval times vary; verify current terms directly with Hyperbolic.

How to apply

1. Visit Hyperbolic and create an account.
2. Verify your email and payment method if required for the free tier.
3. Apply for startup credits through their startup program page.
4. Submit your company profile, use case, and expected compute needs.
5. Wait for approval and apply credits to your billing account.

Caveats

• SMF Clearinghouse does not administer this offer.
• Credit amounts and eligibility criteria change frequently.
• Free tier usage is rate-limited and may not cover production traffic.
• Dedicated GPU availability depends on supply.
• Credits are usually time-bound and cannot be transferred.

Best for

• Startups prototyping open-weight model deployments.
• Researchers needing short-term GPU access for experiments.
• Teams comparing GPU cloud providers before signing a long-term contract.
• Builders who want serverless inference without managing infrastructure.

Verdict

Hyperbolic's free tier and startup credits are a low-risk way to test GPU cloud inference. The offering is strongest for open-weight models and prototyping. Move to a reserved plan or another provider once you have predictable production traffic and can compare cost per token honestly.

Related:

• Anthropic Startup Program
• OpenAI for Startups
• LLM Pricing